Resin Magic: From Backless Bezel to Mixed-Media Pendant In Minutes

I'm a collector of way too many things, especially tiny things like shells and antique watch parts. I'm always looking for ways to use my tiny treasures in my jewelry designs, and resin is my favorite method of choice lately. There are so many jewelry artists who use resin to create beautiful works of jewelry art, including one of my favorites, Susan Lenart Kazmer.

Jean Campbell is also inspired by Susan's resin work, and her great post about Susan's resin work on our sister site Beading Daily showed me how to fill open-back bezels with resin to make little assemblages of my tiny collections. The result is an open design in which the little beauties seem to float in space, like in a snowglobe–which, of course, I collect. This technique is perfect for Steampunk fans, too.

Here are Jean's step-by-step instructions for using resin and a piece of tape to make a backless bezel come alive with any tiny things you like, plus a peek at Exploring Resin Jewelry-Making with Susan Lenart Kazmer, the video that inspired it, in which "Susan describes using spices and herbs, right from her kitchen, to color the material. How cool is that?" Way cool, Jean!

1: Cut a piece of thick, flat, strong tape (I used clear packing tape) and stick it securely to the back of the bezel.

2. Drop in some resin that fills the back of the bezel, covering the tape.

3.Use tweezers to carefully place an item on top of the resin. (I’m all about Steampunk these days, so I’m using watch parts here . . . )

4. Add more resin on top of the item.

5: Add more items to the resin, carefully adjusting their positions with a toothpick.

6: Add more resin to completely cover the items so the resin is even with the top of the bezel. If necessary, remove any bubbles by pulling them to the side with a pin or by quickly passing a flame over the top of the bezel.

Let the resin dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. UV resin requires light to dry, so Jean placed her bezel on the windowsill, and it dried in about 15 minutes. Once dry, carefully peel the tape from the back of the bezel. Easy!